‘I challenge life by being fit’
What I realised is that fitness is mentally and emotionally stimulating too. That is crucial when you are battling something like cancer.” Natalia Hassanie
After life challenged me, I chose to challenge life.” That’s what Natalia Hassanie told Khaleej Times when talking about her decision to accept the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
It was a breast cancer diagnosis in 2013 that saw Hassanie convert from gym virgin to a gym bunny. And after getting the “all clear” in 2015, her journey has been about inspiring other cancer survivors to get into fitness.
“I saw the Dubai Fitness Challenge as a perfect platform to spread my message of hope. Prior to my diagnosis I never did fitness. I had never been to a gym. But what I realised is that fitness is mentally and emotionally stimulating too. That is crucial when you are battling something like cancer.”
Today, Hassanie is no stranger to pushing her limits. Just over a year after undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, she challenged herself to take part in 4km obstacle race. And since then, she hasn’t looked back.
“In November 2016, I took part in the Spartan challenge and finished in 2.5 hours. That was my second challenge and that’s when it became addictive. I then went on to do an obstacle race at Al Qudra Lakes which I completed in one hour, and then in February of this year I did my second Spartan race in Abu Dhabi. I finished in 56 minutes. My fitness levels have skyrocketed since my journey began.”
When the Dubai Fitness Challenge kicked off on Friday, Hassanie made it a point to change up her approach to getting fit. In addition to her normal daily gym routine, she restarted some meditation sessions and adopted a clean eating approach to her nutrition.
“My advice to anyone going through hard times is try your best to change your mindset. Be around the right people and stop saying ‘I wish I did this or that’. Just do it.”
From that shock cancer diagnosis in 2013, the mother-of-three has battled anxiety and depression. But instead of taking pills to remedy her symptoms, she said it’s exercise that has helped her most.
“I started my own initiative called ‘Positive Performance’, which incorporates all the elements of fitness, yoga, and mindfulness into one. It’s helped me and many others, so I want to continue on that journey here in Dubai. The more you move, the more you oxygenate yourself and that helps with self healing. So there is no excuse not to get active.”
kelly@khaleejtimes.com